You can help The Salvation Army give Kansas City kids a Christmas in July | Opinion

The upcoming Christmas in July event with the KC Monarchs on Saturday, July 18, is a fun opportunity for people to enjoy a baseball game and support the work of The Salvation Army. But there is a bigger reason for people to participate.

When people think of The Salvation Army, most associate us with the iconic red kettles outside local stores, holiday bells and volunteers collecting donations. But The Salvation Army is more than a seasonal operation, and during the hottest time of the year we’re still at work, helping our neighbors in need.

Christmas in July started back in 2019, before the pandemic forced the world to shut down in-person events for a couple of years. There were kettles, bell ringers and The Salvation Army Choir singing Christmas carols at the gates. Back then, it was strictly about donations at the kettles, and we were grateful to receive what was collected. But starting in 2024, the Monarchs came back with a revamped idea to ask their fans to bring toys to the games. And for the past two years the fun and purpose have been building every year.

This year’s event is happening on Saturday at Legends Field in Village West, Kansas City Kansas, where the Monarchs will play the Kane County Cougars. Doors open at 6 pm and any donation of a toy or cash will help make a child’s life a little brighter. Santa Claus will also be there for photos with fans. Following the event, several Monarchs players will personally deliver the donated toys to children participating in The Salvation Army’s summer camp program at the Olathe Corps.

You may know that The Salvation Army gives away toys during Christmas to help struggling parents lighten their load during the holidays. Every year we have a growing list of parents, grandparents, guardians and more who that count on our Corps Community Centers for this support. And when we have asked, Kansas City has stepped up. In 2025, nearly 27,000 toys were donated, collected and distributed at the eight corps in the metropolitan area.

But during the Christmas kettle season, donations fund many important Salvation Army programs that operate all year round. We help people who get behind on their rent and utilities to stay in their homes. Our Christmas Assistance programs provide hope and help during the holidays. We provide pantry staples throughout the year that help people feed their families. We help veterans with housing and struggling families to overcome obstacles to stability with our Pathway of Hope Program. Our Emergency Disaster Services response team shows up with resources in communities hit by a disaster, when folks have lost everything and don’t know where to turn.

We could not do all these things without the help of generous people who give of their time and treasure. Need doesn’t take a holiday, and we are eternally grateful for the donations and the support for The Salvation Army’s mission no matter the season. Thankfully, we have been able to fund most of our operation from each Christmas season, raising more than 70% of our revenue. But with additional resources, we can help more people.

The mission of The Salvation Army is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination. This is what we do 365 days a year.

I have been serving in The Salvation Army now for 18 years, and it never ceases to amaze me how generous people can be. Won’t you consider putting a little Christmas spirit into America’s pastime by helping The Salvation Army? The kids look forward to the gifts, but cash works too. And if you can’t make it to the Monarchs game with a toy, you can always just donate online by visiting our website at SalArmyMoKan.org

Thank you.

Major Xavier Montenegro is Kansas City Area Commander of The Salvation Army of Kansas and Western Missouri.

This story was originally published July 17, 2026 at 5:07 AM.